{"id":3156,"date":"2020-10-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rent.is\/camperstories\/top-5-places-to-visit-in-iceland\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T16:49:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T16:49:45","slug":"top-5-places-to-visit-in-iceland","status":"publish","type":"camperstories","link":"https:\/\/www.rent.is\/da\/camperstories\/top-5-places-to-visit-in-iceland\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Places to visit in Iceland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our Top 5 Places to Visit by Campervan in Iceland<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Camper<\/a>S<\/strong>o you\u2019re thinking about driving around Iceland. Good news: you really can\u2019t do this wrong. Traveling around the Ring Road<\/a> (Route 1) in a Campervan<\/a> is going to be a good idea even if you don\u2019t do a ton of planning. Even if you don\u2019t plan every meal, camp at all the best spots, or hike every mountain that catches your eye, you\u2019re still going to have a good time. In fact, if you do nothing more than just hop in a Campervan and drive the Ring Road, you\u2019ll easily see a dozen or more of the coolest things you\u2019ve ever seen — gurgling pots of steaming sulfuric water at Hverar\u00f6nd, breathtaking waterfalls<\/a>, enormous craters looming up from the flat earth, ridiculous geysers bursting forth, and mile after mile of gorgeous, unmatched natural beauty. However, the Campervan allows you a bit more flexibility in your exploring and you\u2019ll inevitably discover a few unique spots away from the maddening crowds. Here are a few of our favorites!<\/div>\n
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\"Landbrotalaug<\/a>The Landbrotalaug Hot Pot\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
I<\/strong>f you take the detour towards Sn\u00e6fellsnes National Park, on the western edge of the country just north of Reykjavik, this naturally fed hot pot is an awesome little excursion off the beaten path. We got there mid-day in July and had the place all to ourselves. It\u2019s not hard to find — as you travel from Reykjavik towards Sn\u00e6fellsnes\u00a0on Route 54, you will pass Eldborg Crater (on your left). There is literally one main road, so you won\u2019t get lost. After you\u2019ve passed the crater, you\u2019ll see an abandoned farm house on the left and a sign that says Sk\u00e1ld. There\u2019s a road\/driveway right before the farm. Turn left onto that road. You\u2019ll follow the road up and around, past the farm and back into the middle of a field. Once you get a few minutes back into the middle of nowhere, you will see a small parking lot. If you\u2019re lucky, you will be the only car there. Follow the path to the left out to the main pool, which is pipe-fed by geothermal heated water. Have a soak and enjoy yourself — we did!<\/div>\n

\"Icelandic<\/a>Tr\u00f6llaskagi Peninsula\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
T<\/strong>his very remote, very beautiful peninsula is a few hours\u2019 detour before you get into Akureyri (the second largest \u201ccity\u201d in Iceland after Reykjavik), but it\u2019s worth it. Make sure you approach it along the Route 75 bridge, where the crossing is narrowest. The views are staggering, the roads are fun to drive, and the little towns are full of great surprises (charming coffee houses, handmade crafts, and more). Go for a hike in Siglufj\u00f6r\u00f0ur (Sigli to the locals), buy an Icelandic sweater in H\u00f3fs\u00f3s, and have lunch at the resort at L\u00f3nkot. And beware of the trolls.<\/div>\n
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Sey\u00f0isfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur Peninsula\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
O<\/strong>ur time on this peninsula was the highlight of our trip, and not only because of the stunning glacial drive in and the quaint, bucolic town and brightly colored houses. We happened to arrive in the midst of the EU sponsored art festival, Lunga. Against the backdrop of the most beautiful fjord we\u2019d ever visited, we were exposed to a range of art and music that was truly international. From German folk songs to electronica, it was an amazing experience.<\/div>\n
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W<\/strong>e stayed the night at the campgrounds in Sey\u00f0isfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur<\/a>, and the next day we went kayaking with local kayak guide, Hl\u00fdnur Oddsson. Make sure you take a peek around his shop and get to know him a little bit before you go out — he\u2019s an interesting dude. Sey\u00f0isfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur is also home to some tasty restaurants — great bar food at Kaffi L\u00e1ra El Grillo Bar, fresh sushi and Asian offerings at Nor\u00f0 Austur, and most importantly, kickass coffee and breakfast at the Skaftfell Bistro. When you\u2019re finished with your breakfast at the Bistro, head upstairs to the second floor for an outsider gallery showcasing all kinds of art.<\/div>\n
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Read more<\/strong>: Travel apps for Iceland<\/a><\/div>\n
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Skaftafell National Park<\/span><\/h3>\n
I<\/strong>f you\u2019re looking for an amazing day hike, look no further than Skaftafell National Park. We arrived at Skaftafell after visiting J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rl\u00f3n, the Glacier Lagoon. We started off at the Visitor\u2019s Center, and followed the Skaftafellshei\u00f0i trail– a full list of trails is available online. It was definitely worth it to pack a picnic lunch, plenty of water, and make a day of it. Our hike lasted around 4-6 hours, but it felt like we could have spent twice that long breathing in the crisp glacial air and basking in amazing views that surrounded us.<\/div>\n
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\"Swimming<\/a>Swimming Pools\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
I<\/strong> know, I know — you went to Iceland for the hot pots. And as you see above, we found some great natural ones. And you have to go to M\u00fdvatn or the Blue Lagoon just to say you\u2019ve done it (we chose M\u00fdvatn, it was awesome). But a pro tip we discovered along the way is that Icelandic swimming pools<\/a> are much cooler than American swimming pools, and every town has one. If you want an authentic Icelandic experience, visit one of these.<\/div>\n
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W<\/strong>hile most Icelanders that you\u2019ll run into during your travels will work in the tourism industry and act unfailingly professional and accommodating, the swimming pools are a good chance to meet some locals in their natural habitat. These swimming pools are replete with hot tubs of ascending geothermal heat along with saunas, water slides, kiddie pools, and lanes for swimming laps. It\u2019s easy to imagine how important these pools are during the bitter cold and eternal darkness of the long winter months. Don\u2019t skip them if you visit in the winter.<\/div>\n
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\"Sv\u00ednafellsj\u00f6kull<\/a><\/div>\n
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T<\/strong>he main tourist stops along the Ring Road are awesome. Visit as many of them as you have time for, but don\u2019t beat yourself up if you pass one or two. Something just as cool is probably coming up around the next bend.<\/div>\n
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Enjoy yourself, enjoy the Campervan, and enjoy the country. It\u2019s the best!<\/div>\n
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Read more<\/strong>: Putting the ring on a Ring road adventure<\/a><\/div>\n
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Happy Camping! \u00a0#CamperStories<\/strong><\/div>\n
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\u00a0Iceland Travel Guides<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Campsites<\/a>\u00a0\"The<\/a><\/p>\n